Method of and device for installing wallboard



April 4 A. s. T. LAGAARD 2,197,749

IETHOD'OF AND DEVICE FOR INSTALLING WALLBOARD Filed Oct. 27, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Pic. 1 6

mg L'IIIIIIIIl'IIIIIIIIII/fi 7 April 16, 1940. A. s. T. LAGAARD METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR INSTALLING WALLBOARD Filed Oct. 27, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 v U I I v 12 Q or A5 16 I Fla-l5 Q 74 P133111 April 16,1940. s, T, LAGAARD 2,197,749

METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR INSTALLING WALLBOARD Filed Oct. 27, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 v 104 75 2' 96 75 92 n amiggb April 1940. A. s. T. LAGA ARD ,749

I ETHQD OF AND DEVICE FOR INSTALLING WALLBOARD Filed Oct. 27, 1937 4 Sheets-Shag; 4

Q F101 18 84 2. gfl

thereof. I

Patented Apr. 16, 1940 METHOD for AND DEVICE" FOR. INSTALLING WALLBOAIt D' I 1 Alexander S. 'I'. Lagaard,MinneapoIisIMinn. I 1 Application October 27, 1937, SerialNo. 171,209

I v 9 Claims (01. 124118) I My invention relates to methods of and devices for installing wallboard and has-for an object to provide a method and devices for installing the wallboard whereby no metal protrudes thru the wallboard.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a method of and devices for installing walltween the sections of wallboard. I

A still further object resides in providing a joint constructed from the same material as thewallboard. I

board whereby invisible joints are procured be- Another'object of. the invention resides in-providing a joint by means of which irregularities of the 'cuttingof the wallboard are obscured.

A feature of-the invention resides? in providing a joint in which a groove of uniform'width is formed in theadjoining sections of the' wallboard .after erection "of the wallboard and in which a preformed filler strip of corresponding width. is

. secured.

- therebetween and in guiding I Another object of the invention resides in erect in-g the adjacent wallboard sections with a'slot I I I a tool -for forming the groove *thru said slot. I I I An object of the invention resides in themeth- 0d of forming the groove in the wallboardiwhich consists in first slittingthe marginal portions of.

the board befOreerection' and insimultaneousl'y cutting out the marginal portions of the board after erection. v 1

. An objectoi the invention-resides in providin a fastener which maybe secured to the supporting structure of the wallboard and which becomes attached to the wallboar'd' solely from the back A still further object of the invention-resides in providingtools by meansof whichthe joints roanbe made. I I j A feature of the invention resides in providing a spacer forforming the guideslotat the joint.

Other objects of the invention reside in the combination of parts and fin the details ofconstruction hereinafterillustrated and as described.

PATENT 1 OFFICE" v Fig.5 is a I sideelevational view of theslittlng tool of the invention.

.;Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 5. I

I'7fis "a side'elevational view of thejoint grooving tool of the invention. I i Fig. 8 is an end. elevational view of the structure shown in Fig.7 with parts shown in section. Fig. 9 is an end elevational view of the corner grooving tool of; the invention. I

II Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one spacer.-

Fig. 11 is across sectional view of two adjoiningsections of wallboard and the adjacent stud illustrating the method of using the spacer and ta'ken'ori line l|ll of Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is acrosssectional detail view taken on line 12- -1101 Fig. 1. I I

Fig. 13 is adetail' crosssectionalview taken on .Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing the construction at the corner of the room. Fig. 15 is a view similar tov Fig. 12 of thestructure shown in Fig. Hand taken" on line 15-45 of Fig. ,1.

" Fig. 1c is a view similar to Fig.13 of the structure shown in Fig. 1e and taken on line .l6-|6 of Fig. 1. Y

1'7 is a cross sectional detail view taken on line IL-Hoi Fig. 1 showing the position or the fastener before erectionof thewallboard.-

Fig. .18 is a cross sectional detail view taken on line l8-l8 of Fig. 1 and showing the position of the fastener aftererection of the wallboard.

In thei nstallation of wallboard and particularly insulating types of wallboard constructed from fibrous material great difficulty has been encountered. Where nails have been used it requires considerable time to putty up the nail holes and spots result which have a different surface texture than the wallboard itself. .Such spots are hence always visible whether the wallis painted or papered. Furthermore when condensation' collects on the nails the same rust andthe rust shows through the puttied spots, discoloring the paper or the paint." "In addition to the above diillculties it has been impossible to construct a secure joint which would have the same. appearance as the wallboard itself. Where putty has been used to fill Eup the jointslthe putty soon cracks and the cracks are visible through the paint or paper. Where strips of thin material I have been adhered to the wallboard at the joint the strips either are highly noticeable or where metal strips are used the same readily come off after a short periodgo-f time. The present inven- Figsf 2, 3; 17 and 1s;

tion overcomes all of these difliculties by providing a method of erection and special tools and devices whereby the wallboard may be installed without any nails or fastener members projectit. which includes a corner stud 2i and a plate 22.

The ceiling l3 comprises a-number'of ceiling joists 23 which rest upon the plate 22 ,and the plate of the opposite wall of the roomfwhich is not shown. 1

Fertile-purpose of installing the wallboard a number of fasteners designated by.thefreference which are, best shown in numeral vfiflpare used In addition a number of staples ell shownin vFig. 4 a're'used to securethe board to the studs at. the .jointsLTo pr'epareithe board prior to creation aslitting tool 40 shown in Figs. 5Iand 6 is em-ployed while a'joint grooving tool 59 shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is used to formthe groove in the joint after the wallboardis erected. A similar tooled forms the groove at the corners of the room. This toolis shown in Fig. 9. In Fig. 10 isshown one of a number of spacers "m which. are .used in the erection of a board. All of these various tools-anddevices will now be described detail. v 1 The'fastener shown in Figs' 2,3, '16 andll'l is constructed from astrip of sheet metal which is sheared along diagonal converging-lines 26' and to iormtwo sets ofprongs 2.6 and 21. The lines of shears an dtfi extend completely through the lateral edges of strip so that the prongs 26 andEl are formed with sharp corners. By means of this construction the strip is formed with a base 28 andwith arms 3! ands; extending outwardly therefrom. .The arms 31i1and'3 2 are bent at an angle to the base 28 as shown in Fig. 17 and project outwardly from said base. .The prongs 26 and 2? are preferably-curvedas shownin Figs.

2 and l7 and project outwardly from the base.

These prongs-are so situated that the points 29 thereof are situated substantially opposite the corners 53 formed where the said prongs are bent away from the arms Bland 32. Struck'out of the arms 3i and are tongues 34 and iifi which' are bentrrelative to said arms so that said tongues lie substantially: in a common planel- .Thes'e tongues remain attached totthe arms'thru connecting portions 8?. The holes 88 formedin the arms 3?! and 32 by tongues 34 and 35-are prefer-- ably constructed a trifle larger than said'tongues, so that the tongues may bereadily bent back into the plane of the arm's- 3! and 32. The-base 28 has a numberof holes-36 in the same through which one or more nails may. be insertedand driven 'into a stud for attaching the'fastener '20 to the same. f The staple is constructed from flatwire and is bent 'to' provide two legs 31 and 38 and a con- The legs 31 and 3B are sheared ori'a bias'to provide points '4! which readily enter the wood intowhich the staple is driven." a The tool ifi consists of a block of wood 42 which has aslit 43 in thesame'parallel with-one of the The wall H ineludes a plate M which has attached to it a cor ner stud l5 and intermediate studs l6, l1, I Band Only the end view of the wall I2 is shown-,;

2,197,740 I J-"i' surfaces 44 "thereof and extending throughthe major portion of the same.

ground edge 66 and a pointed end-l7. The'blade is obliquely disposed in the slit 43 and isfh eld clamped-in positionby means of two bolts 48 and "49 which pass through the two parts 15! and 152- In this slit is disposed a blade which is constructed with a of the block 62 formed by the slit 43. The bolt 1 49 passes through the blade 45and serves as a pivot for guiding the bladeflE for movement into 10 a and out of the. slit as. The bolt 4,8 is disposed outwardly beyond theend'of the blade =46 and permits of such movement. In the upper portionof the block 62 is a set screw 56 whichis. centered with respect to the slit 43 and extends partly into the same. This set screw is adapted 'to engage theedgeof the blade 45 and to urge the same outwardly beyond the lower edge 52hr" the block 42. overlying the s'urface 44 of block i His a gauge plate 53 which is constructed with an outwardly turned forward e'dgeb. 'I'hisplate is held -.attached'to the block .42 by means itr c bolts "48 and 4.5 which. pass directly 1 through the same' The block 22 is rounded at its corners and serves as a handle by means t ll may be manipulated.

-Thetool fill is constructed similarlylto thetool I tilandcomprises two blocks- 55 and 56,,best shown in'Fi'gs. 7 and 8. The two blacks-55Qand are identical excepting that one is left=handed and only the block 56 will be described in detail. Block .53 is constructed with a slit'ii similar to the slit 43Of-b100k242 which is adapted to receive fifi and 5S and whichareprovided ,with nutst2 which hold the parts clamped together. Aset screw 63 threaded into the block 5fi'an'd centered with respect to the slit 51 adjusts the position of j l the cutting edgeM. of the blade 58 with "respect to the edge 65 of said block. Block 55: is-similarly provided with a blade: 66 which is parallel with blade 57.

of which the tool Between, the two blocks. 55 and 55 is disposed a guide plate 57. The two bolts 59 and 6| extend through-this guide plate and hold-the to i the other one is righthanded and'for this reason i guide tplate firmly clamped between thefsaid blocks. The guide plate 6'! has the lowermost POI";

tion it thereof extending below the surfaces=ii5 be used.

- of the blocks 55 and 56a distance -less .than-the thickness of the board with which, the tool is to To hold the two 'b100k5755 and, 56

properly spaced at their. uppermostportions another bolt til-is employed which extends jointly through both theblocks 55 and 56. A washer ll encircles the said bolt and holds the portions of theblocks Fifiand fiiithrough which thebolt. ex

tends properly spaced. This washer, isthesame thickness as the guide plate 61. The distance between the two blades 53 and 65 maybe increased by inserting shim washers on the bolts "59,6! "and I 69 andoneither side of the washer (land plate 61. p I The toolGD shown in Fig. 9 consists of one of the parts of the tool shown in Fig. 8. Instead of the bo'1ts59 and M which are usedfto hold the parts together two shorter bolts I0 I areemployed. These bolts are countersunkint'o the face )3 of the block forming apart of said tool so-th'atg the said base is smooth throughout its extent.

0nel of the spacers '10 is'shown in detail-in Fig.

10. This spacer is constructed from sheet metal and is stamped to provide a l lodyportion 12 elongated in form which is provided at one edge with two outwardly projected-prongs. I3 and: 14. At the ends of the body 12 are provided notches lB.

The prongs I3 and "maybe sharpened if desired tion of this wall the same is divided into sections inaccordance with thewidth of the wallboard used and the spacing of the studs. The studs are usually spaced sixteen inches" and the wallboard comes'four feet wide so that each section of wallboard spans three spaces'between studs. Where an odd number of studs exist in the wall a smaller section of wallboard is used to fill up the remaining space. In Fig. 1 the wall H has been illustrated as comprising three sections of wallboard -75, T6 and 17. After the wall i2 is completed and the last sectionof wallboard 18 thereof adjacent the corner of the room installed the installation of wallboard on the wall H may be commenced.- v

To the studs I5, I! and I8 are applied the fasteners 29 which are securedthereto bymeans of nails 19' as shown in Figs- 17 and 18. These nails are inserted through the holes 36 in the bases 28 of thefastenersfZll and are driveninto placeby means of a nail set or any similar tool. The fasteners 20 applied to the stud L: are placed near the edge 8| of the stud l5 andare arranged vertically for a purpose to be subsequently described. The fasteners 20 on the studs l1 and i8 extend crosswise as shown in Figs. 1'7 and 18. Also fasteners 20 are applied to the plate M in the same manner as to the stud I5, being arranged longitudinally with respect to said stud and near the-'lowermostedge 82 thereof. Likewise fasteners may be secured to the fioor plate of the room if desired or if a baseboard is-to be applied over the wallboard .the wallboard may be secured by nails instead of by fasteners. 7

Assume that sheet 15 is first to be erected. This sheet is first cut to length and placed upon a table or on saw horses. slitting tool 40 is first used which is applied to all of the edges of the wallboard along which a joint is to be formed. In using tool. the gauge plate 53 thereof is caused to rest'upon the outermost surface 851 of the wallboard and with the blade Mi near the exposed edge-of the board. The tool is then run v along the board and the blade forced into the edge of the board. The operation isrepeated several times and each time blade 45 is forced further into the board until the surface 52 of the block engages the edges of the board and terminates inward movement of the blade into the board. The depth of the cut may be regulated by adjustment of the set screw 5|. The same operation is performed only on the vertical edges of the board. In Fig; 11. the left hand marginal portion of the section ofwallboard It is shown and the slit formed the-rein is designated by the reference numeral .91. This slit maybe arranged approximately midway between the inner and outer surfaces of the wallboard which dimension is determined by .the position of the slit 43 in the block 42. This distance may be varied by the use of shim washers .betweenthe v plate 53 and block 42. k

After all of the fasteners 20 have been applied to thestuds and plates, the sections of wallboard I spacers.

are erected." Forthe sake of convenience in ex planation itrwill' be assumed that the sheet 16 is first to be erected. "Twoor three of the spacers 10 are first secured to the stud l6 midway betweenthe lateral edges thereof by'driving the v prongs 13 and" into the same. One of the spacers may be placed approximately one foot from the ceiling; another one foot'from .the floor and the third somewheres in between. The intermediate spacer .may be' omitted if desired.

The spacers are properly applied when the prongs l3 and M become embedded in the stud and the edges 83 of said spacersrest upon the-outwardly facing surface of the stud. The sectionlfi is next placed in proper position in front of the studs to which it is to be attached. The section is then raised by placing .a block or wedge under the lowermost edge thereof and elevated until it reaches the ceiling joist 23 adjacent the plate 14.

While so positioned the sheet '16 is moved later ally'until it engages the bodies 12 of the spacers Hi. The bodies of these spacers are of a height considerablygreater than the thickness of the wallboard so that the same form stops for positioning the section-l6 prior to the attachment of the-sheets to the wall. If the section does not fit snugly against both the ceiling joists and spacers Ill it is readjusted until it fitsagainst said In such case'it may at one end form a gap between it-and the ceiling joists.

After-the section It is properly positioned with its edge bearing against'the spacers H! the sheet is attached to the studs l1 and I8 and the plate I I4. The position of the wallboard with reference to the fasteners 20 prior to attachment is shown inFig, 1'7. The-prongs 26 and 21 in such position slightly'enter the board and the'tongues 34 and bear against inner surface 84 of the board. Attachment isaccomplished by placing a large block ofwood such as a two foot length of studding upon the exterior of the wallboard directly in front of the facing surface of the stud to which the board. is to be first attached. This block is t given a smartblow with a hammer. When the block overlying the board is hit with the hammer the tongues 34 and 35 bend the arms 3! and 32 about the bends 85 and 85 and cause saidarms to align with the base 28. The Width of the base 28 at the bends 85 and 86 is relatively narrow so that said arms readily bend. Also the width of I the connecting portions 81 betweenthe tongues 34 and 35'and arms 3| and 32 are relatively narrow. This causes the tongues 34 and 35 to readily fold back into the planes of the arms 3! and 32. In the formation of the tongues 34 and 35 the holes 88 formed in said arms as previously describe-dare constructed slightly larger than the tongues. so that the tongues are readily received within the same and the said tongues, arms and base 28 all lie substantially in a common plane. The prongs 26 being bent from the arm 3| follows with said arm as'the same is straightened out and likewise the prongs 2T follow with the arm 32 as said arm is straightened out. This causes the four prongs to hook into the wallboard as shown in Fig. 18 and to attach the wallboard to the fastener 29. It will readilybecome apparent that the prongs 26 and 2! are of such length that the same do not project through the outer surface 89 of the wallboard during the application of the wallboard to'vthe fasteneror afterv the wallboardhas been applied. In this manner the wallboard is rigidly secured to the studs without'means of support visible from the interior ofv the room. In applying the wallboard to the studs the block of wood is shifted around to the various fasteners and the fasteners straightened out gradually so as to prevent tearing of the board, which might occur if one of the fasteners was completely driven-in before the other fasteners were partly in place. When all of the fasteners on the studs and plates are properly applied the next section of wallboarsl' may be erected. i

It will be assumed that section 15 is to be applied next. This section is cut to dimensions as closely as possible and is slit along both vertical edges the same as the sheet 16. The marginal portion of section 75 at the right hand portion of the section isshown. in Fig. 11. The slit therein is designated by the reference numeral 92. In applying section 15 the same is butted up against the spacers 79 as shown in Fig. 11 and any irregularities between the edge of the section 16 and the wallboard E8 of wall I2 are allowed to occur at the surface of the wallboard 18. Thus a groove of uniform width, which is indicated at 93 in Fig. 13 is formed between the two sheets 15 and Iii when the spacers 79 are removed. After the section 15 is in positionthe same is attached through the fasteners 29 as previously described.

After this section is in position the spacers T9 are removed by applying the clawof a claw-hammer to the notch I9 and pulling the end of said spacer outwardly. This causes the spacer to rock on the opposite heel 94 of the body portion '12 thereof and to cause the prongs l3 and to become readif] extracted.

A groove such as indicated at 95 in Figs. 12 and 13 is next formed in the adjoining portions of the sections l5 and 16 of the wallboard. This is accomplished by means of the tool 59. The protruding portion 63 of guide plate I5! is first inserted into the slot 93 formed between the two sections of .wallboard l5 and '59. The tool is then drawn along the said groove which serves as a guide for guiding the movement of the tool. At the same time the tool is pressed inwardly so that the blades 53 and 96 thereof enter the outermost portion of both sheets of wallboard through the outer surfaces 89 thereof. The operation may be repeated, the cutting being made in installments until the depth of the two outs is equal to the distance of the slits 9i and 92 from the outer surface 89. of the wallboard. This removes the outermost corners of the board and leaves the groove 95. The groove 95 is thus of uniform width and depth.

After the groove 95 has been formed a number of staples 39 are driven through the remaining portions 96 and 9'! of the sections of wallboard and into the studs I9. This securely attaches the marginal portions of the sections of wallboardto the stud. Thereafter strips of wallboard, indicated at 9B, are glued or cemented into the groove 95. These strips are of a width slightly greater than the width of the groove and of a thickness substantially equal to the depth of the groove. By means of this construction a tight joint is provided which is of the same tightness throughout its extent. After the strip 98 has been properly applied the surface of the joint may be sanded down so that the outermost surface 89 of the wall board is perfectly hat and smooth.

In a similar manner the section T! is applied and the other sections of the wall installed. The ceiling I3 is similarly installed and the sections used in forming the same erected in the same manner and constructed with slits identical with those" previously the walls.

In forming the joints in the corners of the room the tool 59 is employed. Assume that the, joint between walls I I and I2 is to be formed. Prior to described in conjunction with erection of the section'l5 a slit I 96 is first formed in the edge of'said section as shown in Fig. 14. The surface I93 of tool 60 is run along the outwardly facing surface of the wallboard 18 forming wall I2 and the blade 66 of said tool caused to enter the section 15. This forms a groove I04 which is shown in Fig. 15. The said groove is of uniform width and depth and in this groove is ine serted a filler strip I05 similar to the filler strip 98used with the joint I 96. This strip is glued or cemented in place which attaches the adjoining portions of the wallboard of the two walls II and I2 together, as shown in Fig. 16. Similar joints are formed between the ceiling i3 and the various walls and also between the other walls of the room.

It will readily be comprehended that after the wallboard has been installed in accordance with my invention, completely closed joints are formed throughout the entire extent of the room and no visible means of fastening are discernible. The

wallboa-rd after being installed as specified may be coated with a suitable primer and thereafter painted in the customary manner or, if desired, the same hung with wall paper.

The advantages of my invention are'manifest.

An extremely practical construction is provided and method employed whereby wallboard may without affecting the joints or'the fastenings of the board. In this mannercracks in the surface of the wallboard are entirely prevented, With my invention it becomes unnecessary to wait for any length of time beforeapplying the painting or paper since the glue used in the joints can be made to set in from four to twenty-four hours. With my invention an insulatingboard may be used whereby added advantages are procured. The tools used with my invention can be constructed at a nominal cost and the blades used in conjunction therewith can be readily removed for sharpening'and replacement.

The wallboard fastener disclosed in Figures 2, 3, 1'2, and 18 is disclosed and claimed in myv copending divisional application 189,799,1i1ed'Feb.

10, 1938 and tools disclosed in'Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 disclosed and claimed in my copending ap-- plication Serial No. 313,969 filed January 15, 1940, constituting a continuation in part of the instant application for patent.

Having described my invention, what I consider' as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1-. The method of installing two adjoining sections of 'wailboard which consists in forming slits in the sections intermediate their front and rear surfaces at the adjoining edges thereof and prior to erection of both sections, in erecting the sections with their adjoining edges spaced from one another to form a slot therebetween, insevering after erection the outer marginal portions of the sections formed by the slits, in-controlling the severing through the agency of the slot to form a groove of uniform lateral dimensionsextending into both of the sections and exposed from the outer surfaces of the sections and in securing in said groove and to said sections a preformed filler strip of dimensions corresponding to those of the 2. The method of installing two adjoining sections of wallboard which consists in erecting the sections with'their adjoining edges adjacent one another, in forming after erection a groove of uniform lateral dimensions partly in one section and partly in the other section, and in securing in said groove and to both of said sections a pre formedfiller strip of dimensions corresponding to those of the groove.

3. The method of installing two adjoining sec tions of wallboard one of which has a surface angularly disposed with reference to the outer surface of the other section, which consists in erecting the sections with the angularly disposed surface of the one section adjacent 'anedgeof the other section, in making a cut into the second section transversely of and thru the outer surface thereof, in maintaining said out equally spaced from the angularly disposed surface by utilizing said surfaceas a guide, in removing the marginal portion oi'the second section between the cut and the angularly disposed surface of the.

first section and in securing in between said'cut and surface a filler strip. v

4. The method of installing two adjoining sections of Wallboard which consists in erecting the sections with their adjoining edges spaced from one another to form a slot therebetween, in forming a groove extending into both sections, in utilizing said slot as a guide in forming said groove and in'securing in said groove a preformed filler strip. 5. A spacer for use in forming a slot between two sections of wallboard, said spacer comprising an elongated body of a thickness equal to the r thickness of the slot, prongs issuing from one of c the edges of the body for securing the spacer in position adjacent the edge of one of the sections of wallboard, and an extension on said body disposed outwardly of the-outer surface of the wallboard and adaptedto engage the adjoining sec tion of wallboard for guidingthe same into juxtaposition with respect to said first section.

6. The method of installing two adjoining sections of wallboard which consists in erecting the sections with their adjoining edges adjacent one another and opposite a support, in forming after erection a groove of uniform lateral dimensions partly in one section and partly in the other section, in driving fasteners thru the grooved portions of the sections and into the support, and

in securing in said groove and to both of said' sections a preformed filler strip of dimensions corresponding to those of the groove and adapted to conceal the fasteners.

"I. A spacer. for use in forming a slot between two sections of wallboard,.said spacer coiripris- I ing an elongated body of a thickness equal to" the thickness of the slot, prongs issuing from one of the edges of the body. for securing the spacer in position adjacent the edge of one of the sections of wallboard, and an extensionon said body disposed outwardly of the outer surface of the wallboard and notches formed in said extensions and providing shoulders engage able by the claw of a claw hammer for the purpose of extracting the spacer.

8. A spacer for use in forming a slot between two sections of wallboard, said spacer comprising an elongated body of a thickness equal to the thickness of the slot, prongs issuing from one of the edges of thebody for securing the spacer in the sections to leave remaining portions, fasteners extending thru the remaining portions and into the support, and a filler strip received within said groove and concealing said fasteners and.

.the adjoining edges of said sections.

ALEXANDER s. T. LAGAARD. 

